Imaging Findings, Complications, and Mimics after Common and Advanced Dental Procedures

Various new dental treatment methods have been introduced in dental clinics, and many new materials have been used in recent years for dental treatments. Dentistry is divided into several specialties, each offering unique treatments, such as endodontics, implantology, oral surgery, and orthodontics. CT and MR images after dental treatment reveal a variety of hard- and soft-tissue changes and dental materials, which often cause image artifacts. Familiarity with posttreatment changes and dental materials is crucial to avoid misinterpretation of image artifacts as true pathologic features, identify complications, and evaluate for recurrent disease. It also is necessary to be aware of conditions that mimic posttreatment changes and know how to differentiate them at imaging. The authors focus on the imaging of expected and unexpected post-dental treatment changes and characteristics of dental materials on CT and MR images in the head and neck region. The article is divided into five sections: (a) imaging after dental implant treatment, (b) imaging after oral surgery, (c) imaging after endodontic treatment, (d) imaging after orthodontic treatment, and (e) imaging effects of dental treatments. Strategies are provided for distinguishing true pathologic features from posttreatment changes, and the importance of understanding dental procedures, the materials used, and their appearances at radiologic imaging is highlighted. Ultimately, this knowledge can enhance radiologists' ability to interpret complex posttreatment imaging findings, improve diagnostic accuracy, and facilitate effective treatment planning for patients with a history of dental procedures. ^©RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article.